Impacts and place-based approaches to transformative energy justice for First Nations

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dc.contributor.authorHoicka, Christina E.
dc.contributor.authorBerka, Anna
dc.contributor.authorChitsaz, Sara
dc.contributor.authorKlym, Kayla
dc.contributor.authorRegier, Adam
dc.contributor.authorMacdonald, Megan
dc.date.accessioned2026-02-17T22:05:52Z
dc.date.available2025-08-07T18:35:30Z
dc.date.available2026-02-17T22:05:52Z
dc.date.issued2026
dc.descriptionPublished version
dc.description.abstractPlace-based approaches to renewable energy transitions tailor solutions to specific social, cultural, economic and ecological contexts inherent to particular localities. Drawing on transformative energy justice frameworks and approaches, we argue that place-based framings and interpretations of impacts of community renewable energy projects provide the means to center Indigenous worldviews, observations and experiences of justice associated with these projects. This co-created study draws on interviews with knowledge holders in 14 First Nations across the Province of British Columbia (BC), Canada. Interview participants shared experiences and observations on both the process (community engagement) and outcome (impacts and benefits) dimensions of 36 operational and planned renewable energy projects, pointing to a rich diversity of social, political, material, economic, ecological and relational impacts. Across a wide range of project sizes and technologies, the findings indicate that deep community engagement and the collective decisions for allocation of revenues mediate the positive and transformative impacts experienced by the community. Taken collectively, these findings show that First Nations approaches to developing projects are place-based, ensuring a wide range of impacts to the community that can collectively contribute to transformative change. In the broader context of systematic neglect of social, environmental and justice-oriented values in public policy making, and amidst widespread failure of ‘decide-announce-defend’ approaches to achieving social acceptance for renewable energy projects, this study demonstrates what distinguishes place-based approaches in practice, and how they deliver transformative outcomes for First Nations. Policy, project and resource allocation decisions should reflect the diverse impacts and transformative outcomes of renewable energy projects in First Nations contexts. We conclude that embedding place-based approaches in institutional arrangements, policy and project design is critical to providing economic opportunities to First Nations without discrimination under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, alongside meeting BC’s power needs and decarbonization goals.
dc.description.reviewstatusReviewed
dc.description.scholarlevelFaculty
dc.description.sponsorshipThis work was supported by Natural Resources Canada Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities Program (CERRC), Capacity Building Stream funding program. The research was conducted in partnership with CEBC (Clean Energy Association of British Columbia), and the New Relationship Trust. We acknowledge the support of the Government of Canada’s New Frontiers in Research Fund Global NFRFG-2020-00339, the Canada Research Chair Secretariat CRC-2020-00055 and New Frontiers in Research Fund Transformation, CANSTOREnergy project NFRFT-2022-00197. We thank Kwatuuma Cole Sayers, Yuho Okada, Laureen Whyte, Sarah Powell, and Clean Energy BC staff for support with the research, James Hickling, Katya McClintock and Dr Scott Harrison for detailed feedback on the draft, Audrey Popa for conducting interviews, and Lydia Toorenburgh and the University of Victoria for providing Indigenous Cultural Acumen Training to the research team. In memory of Leona Humchitt, proud member of Heiltsuk Nation, a tireless and passionate leader for Indigenous-led clean energy and climate action.
dc.identifier.citationHoicka, C. E., Berka, A., Chitsaz, S., Klym, K., Regier, A., & Macdonald, M. (2026). Impacts and place-based approaches to transformative energy justice for First Nations. Environmental Research: Energy. https://doi.org/10.1088/2753-3751/ae3c15
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1088/2753-3751/ae3c15
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1828/22564.2
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherEnvironmental Research: Energy
dc.rightsAttribution 4.0 Internationalen
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.subjectplace-based approaches
dc.subjecttransformative energy justice
dc.subjectrenewable energy
dc.subjectFirst Nations
dc.subjectIndigenous
dc.subjectRe-Imagining Social Energy Transitions CoLaboratory
dc.subject.departmentDepartment of Geography
dc.subject.departmentDepartment of Civil Engineering
dc.titleImpacts and place-based approaches to transformative energy justice for First Nations
dc.typeArticle

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